The Time to Try Black Walls at Home is Now

A lot of the ideas I get for posts on this blog come from my own life; be it things I’m styling, recommending for clients or wanting to do in my own home.

When it comes to black walls, this topic is very much one that’s been on my mind for a while now. My forever home is nearing completion (I hope to be in soon to start decorating – more on that here), and I already know the wall I intend to paint black – and it’s going to look fantastic.

The good news is that I also have my partner on-board with the decision to adopt black walls. Well, this one wall, anyway. There is nothing more depressing that having a radical design idea (and I have many) and your partner not liking the concept. With full approval from Gavin, we’ll have a black dining room wall not long after we move in. Cue the squealing!

The Time to Try Black Walls is Now

I say that the best time to try black walls is now, but that’s only because I’m going to do it in the coming months. Truth be told, black walls are nothing new, and they are absolutely timeless. So you can get away with trying a black feature wall any time you like. But wouldn’t it be divine if we both did it at the same time? I think so!

Above is the inspiration image for my black dining room wall-to-be. It’s from Stylizmo and I saw it on Instagram a few weeks back. Good Lord is it a stunner. I plan to steal every bit of this idea; not only the paint colour but also the picture rails. Just think of the ever-changing photos and prints I can display in this area. I’m sold.

So many people worry about black walls because they fear it’ll dominate the room and make it feel dark. But let me tell you, they’re wrong. It’s all about how much visual real estate the black paint is taking up and how you balance that out.

In the Stylizmo example above, there is enough white, blonde timber and light flooring to create a wonderful sense of balance – and it just looks like a bucket of bliss if you ask me.

Inspo for Black Walls: Go on, do it!

Above I’ve included examples of other rooms that have rocked black walls – just in case you’re still on the fence as to whether or not you should give it a go.

As you’ll notice, you don’t have to stop at one feature wall. If there’s enough light coming into the space you can splash every wall with black and enjoy the moodiness this hue brings to a scene.

Style Tip: When painting black walls inside, I’d avoid a high-gloss. The glossier the paint, the more it will bounce light off the wall, and I don’t really want this space to feel shimmery or shiny. I’m going to veer toward a matte finish instead – and I honestly cannot wait!

Also, as I always tell people – it’s just paint! If you don’t like it, paint over it. It’s so much easier to change paint on walls than it is timber panelling, tiles, wallpaper. Paint is easy-peasy, so don’t be afraid to get gutsy.

Have you painted a wall black? I would LOVE to hear about it in the comments below. Or better still, please tag me into your photo on Instagram (here) or Facebook (here).